Divine Nature Activities

From our Fall 2015 Issue

The Uniqueness of You

From our Fall 2015 Issue

Divine Nature Value Projects

From our Fall 2015 Issue

Divine Nature

Remember Who You Really Are

I needed this reminder today and thought that you might too!

Have a Happy Thursday!

The Autumn 2015 Issue

What could be better than back to school and fall?

Our Autumn 2015 Issue of course!

It's out today and filled with SO many awesome things!

You'll find a ton of articles about how awesome YOU are! Including a focus on the YW Value of Divine Nature, personal project projects, and activity ideas.

There is a great guest post from the talented Annie Preece about finding your own creativity.

And of course there are yummy pumpkin recipes, fall fashion tips, and so much more!!!!!!!!!!!

Please enjoy and have a wonderful autumn!

Desktop Version:

(We currently haven't figured out a way for you to view this on a mobile device, at least for free...so be patient with us as we work on this! Thanks!)

If You Only Knew...

I came across this little poster on Pinterest and it brought out the poet in me :)

Read below for a little reminder of who you are.

And let's not make fun of my poetic genius, k? Haha.

If You Only Knew...

by marci preece

Under your skin and those curves that you hide.

Something is special, trying to shine.

Behind your lips that hold back a smile

a giggle is waiting to get out for a while.

Hidden by freckles and speckles and more

a sweetness resides that is hard to ignore.

Your eyes focus outward to see another's view

when inward lies the beauty that will always be true.

For deep within the heart of your heart

you are a girl with an amazing part.

You have a gift from our Father above

to nurture, to shine, to share, and to love.

You have a purpose and reason to be.

You have a light that allows others to see.

Please don't hold back the goodness within

because you can't see what's under your skin.

Confidence

In 2007 the mutual theme was D&C 121:45.

"Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; 

then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God."

The YW and YM general presidencies shared a few of their thoughts on this topic. They taught that if you have this confidence in the presence of God, then you will have confidence around anyone else as well.  To gain confidence, they tell us to live the Lord's standards found in For the Strength of Youth. This is different than the world's idea of confidence but it is the way that you will truly find happiness.

They gave a few suggestions of how we can become more confident:

Pray that the Lord will help you remember that you are His child 

and that you have important work to do 

Make a list of your strengths and good qualities.

Read and ponder your patriarchal blessing, or prepare to receive one.

Serve others, and write in your journal how service makes you feel.

Eat well and exercise. Your body is a gift from God, and good nutrition and physical activity will lift your mood and help you feel better about yourself.

Offer prayers of gratitude, and record your gratitude in a journal.

Develop your talents.

Keep the commandments.

Do you have any other ideas on how to become more confident?

Please share in the comments, we'd love to hear!

Favorite Things Friday: DIY Monogram Letters

Okay.

I might have a slight obsession with monogram letters.

Let's just warn you of that right now, k?

I had WAY too much fun gathering these adorable ideas

using buttons, jute, burlap, ribbon, sticks, glitter, yarn, and really whatever you can imagine!

And would it be weird if I made one of each?

That'd be like a dozen M's in my bedroom. Haha!

I just can't decide which one I like the best!

Wouldn't any of these look so great in your bedroom??? I think so!

So take a look and see if there's one that fits your style and taste!

This would be a fun project to do with friends or your YW group as well!

Maybe a fun craft to tie in with Divine Nature or Individual Worth!

Jute Wrapped Monogram

Tutorial by Teal & Lime

Yarn Wrapped Ombre Monogram Letter

Tutorial by Catch My Party

Moss Monogram Letter Frame

Tutorial by Upcycled Treasures

Painted Chevron Monogram Letter

Tutorial by The Happy Scraps

Monogram Wall Art

Tutorial by Pet Scribbles

Burlap Monogram

Tutorial by Love of Family and Home

Element Monogram

Tutorial by American Crafts Studio

Still Life Monogram Anthro Knock Off

Tutorial by The Country Chic Cottage

Burlap Covered Letter

Tutorial featured on Carolyn's Homework

Faux Brushed Nickel Letter

Tutorial by Make and Takes

Book Letter

Tutorial by Little Things Bring Smiles

Stick Letter

Tutorial by Hello Little House

Glitter Dipped Monogram

Tutorial by Sugar and Cloth

I Know My Worth: Part Two

By Marci Preece
Also featured on Just An Average Mormon

Did you read Part One? Find it here. 

In part one I spoke about our worth - that we are all daughters of God who have worth based on God's love for us and not on the world's. We have a Savior who loves us as well and suffered for us so that we can return to Heavenly Father. He thought we were worth it!

As for us and our own feelings of self-worth, there are two important parts that we need to understand and today I will share the first.

--------------------------------

I have a five year old daughter. She is vibrant, imaginative, eager to learn and to love. She brightens our family every day.

And I love her more than I could ever say.

But I am scared. I know all too well what she will face as she grows. Peer pressure, self-doubt, and fear will be just a few. And because of this, I am continually reminding her that I love her. That she is beautiful, smart, and talented. That she can do hard things. 

I hope that if I am constantly telling her these words and showing her that I believe them through my actions, that maybe as she grows it will keep her confidence a bit stronger and her worries not as deep.

Know That God Loves You.

Just as I am eager to tell my daughter of her worth and importance, our Father in Heaven wants to tell us as well.
We are His children. He loves us more deeply than we can imagine. He knows all elements of our existence more thoroughly than we ever could for ourselves or our own families.

He wants to tell us of His love. He wants to tell us that we are beautiful, smart, and talented. He wants to help us do hard things.

So how do we find this out? How do we know that God loves us?

God is all around us. And if you are seeking for His love, you will find it. Pray to feel His love and I promise that the Lord will answer. Perhaps not in the way you imagined or at the time you want it, but God will bless you with a knowledge of your immense worth and the love He has for you, His child. For "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5)

I have had very sweet moments when I have felt His love. I hold those moments sacred because of the knowledge and greater understanding I received concerning my relationship with my Heavenly Father. And those moments when you feel God's love do not have to be sparse. I feel His love every day. I feel it as I read the scriptures. I feel it as I pray. I feel His love as I look around me and recognize the incredible blessings that God has given me.

Have you felt it? Do you know that God loves you? 

If not, find out! It will change your life. Your understanding of your worth will grow and blossom as you feel the love of God.

(And take a minute to watch this video from President Uchtdorf that fits along with this message. It's wonderful!)

You Are Beautiful.

Today I came across something completely unexpected.

Yet completely perfect.

You see, I've been working on a couple of posts about "beauty".

What the world thinks about beauty. What God thinks about beauty. What you think about beauty.

And on FB I saw this completely awesome video about beauty that goes right along with that topic.

Even though I haven't posted my thoughts about beauty yet,

I wanted to share this video with you today because YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

And sometimes we just need a little reminder of that fact.

So enjoy.

And think about the many reasons why YOU are beautiful :)

What do you see

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Do you see a daughter of God?

Someone with beauty and individuality?

With talents, gifts, and abilities?

With goals and dreams?

With a divine potential to become and do great things?

I hope so. Because you are all of those things and more.

So today when you look in the mirror, make sure you're seeing yourself as God intended.

Remember your worth is great.

Which means you are great :)